ABC AUSTRALIA, 10/02/2005, 09:13:07
Indonesia's military kills more rebels in tsunami-hit Aceh
The Indonesian military says it has killed five more separatist rebels in
tsunami-devastated Aceh province.
Since Aceh's western coastline communities were devastated and reshaped by the
tsunami's brutal force, the Indonesian military, or TNI, says it has killed 200 members
of the Free Aceh Movement known as GAM.
Now the military says it has killed another five rebel fighters in East Aceh.
Our correspondent in Aceh, Geoff Thompson, says the deaths have been confirmed
by a GAM spokesman who also claims another three rebels were killed in a separate
clash.
Fighting continues while foreign militaries and aid organisations continue to assist
with aid relief for the more than 400,000 people displaced by the Tsunami.
The Free Aceh Movement has been fighting for an independent state on the tip of
Sumatra island since 1976.
In May 2003 the army launched a major offensive against the rebels after a short-lived
truce and peace talks collapsed.
©2005 ABC
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